Promoting adoption, spay/neuter, and forever homes

Friday Films: TNR Adventure or TNR is Fun

Today’s Friday Film follows the topic covered yesterday, and should give you a little more idea of what trap-neuter-return (TNR) is all about. The film is a little longer (11 minutes) than usual because you are going to go along with catlady, cat advocate and musician Sarah Donner on a TNR adventure. Find a quiet place and get comfortable: open your mind and your heart.

A colony of unaltered feral cats can cause numerous problems: continually growing numbers of cats; frequent and loud noise from fighting and mating behaviors; strong odors from unneutered male cats spraying to mark their territory; and suffering of sick and dying kittens and injured adult cats. In addition large numbers of kittens and adults from feral colonies end up in animal shelters, forcing the shelter to euthanize them because they are unadoptable, or because there are just too many.

Trapping and killing feral cats is the traditional method of feral cat control. However, this method has been proven ineffective, as the food source (dumpsters, rodents, etc.) usually remains, and any remaining cats in the area quickly move in and repopulate.

TNR is the most successful and proven method of reducing feral cat populations. TNR involves carefully trapping the cats, spaying and neutering them and returning them to their original location. Cats that are social enough to be adopted are placed into new homes. Thecolony stabilizes, fighting diminishes and cat populations are reduced through natural attrition.

Feral cats minimize rodent problems. While cats cannot hunt rats and mice into extinction, they can keep their populations in check and discourage new rodents from moving into the area.

About LAPCATS

Laguna Adoption Program County Animals Team Sacramento (LAPCATS)

LAPCATS is an all-volunteer run and staffed effort to place healthy, loving adult shelter cats into forever homes. We are supported by the Sacramento County Animal Care and Regulation, TEAM (the local non-profit associated with the shelter), and PetSmart. LAPCATS brings homeless shelter cats to the public through Petfinder and the Adoption Center in the Elk Grove PetSmart.

LAPCATS, established in April 2005, has now placed over 1,500 homeless shelter cats! Our cats are chosen for good temperament and adoptability, so if you are looking for a great feline companion and a real lap cat, please stop by today!

LAPCATS is a 501(c) non-profit under TEAM, the non-profit organization affiliated with Sacramento County Animal Care. Donations to LAPCATS are tax-deductible.

“Rescue animals aren’t broken, they’ve simply experienced more life than other animals. If they were human we would call them wise. They would be the ones with tales to tell and stories to write, the ones dealt a bad hand who responded with courage. Don’t pity them. Do something. Help to rescue. Donate. Volunteer. Foster. Adopt. And be proud to have their greatness by your side.” ~Pedigree